Large trades dominated the Colombo bourse yesterday where all three indices moved down marginally on a turnover of Rs.519.9 million, up from the previous day’s Rs.321.8 million, with 116 losers ahead of 81 gainers and 106 counters closing flat.
The All Share Price Index moved down 7.4 points (0.15%), the Milanka was down 4.07 points (0.09%) and S&P down 0.98 points (0.04%).
Brokers said that there were a number of block trades with Dankotuwa Porcelain where nearly 4.4 million shares changed hands in two crossings at the previous closing price of Rs.12.20 leading the pack. Commercial Bank (non-voting) where over a million shares were crossed at Rs.75, HNB X where 298,103 crossed at Rs.91.50 and Distilleries where 325,000 shares were crossed at Rs.122 – all at the previous closing prices.
Apart from these a further 0.4 million HNB (non-voting) traded between Rs.91 and Rs.91.50 closing 50 cents up at Rs.91.50, Guardian was down Rs.1.90 to close at Rs.15 on 152,400 shares traded between Rs.151.20 and Rs.155.10 and Commercial Bank (non-voting) up 30 cents to close at Rs.76.30 on slightly over 0.3 million shares done between Rs.75 and Rs.76.50 closing 30 cents up at Rs.76.30.
There were some large parcels among these trades, brokers said.
Carsons continued to be among the most traded stocks closing 90 cents down at Rs.460 on 46,051 shares traded between Rs.459.50 and Rs.469. Brokers said that this counter has for the last several days been among the most traded shares with the EPF being a buyer.
Ascot Holdings was one of the day’s biggest gainers closing Rs.13.30 up at Rs.200 on 0.1 million shares done between Rs.197 and Rs.200.
Nestle closed 10 cents up ate Rs.1,200 on 16,330 shares while Pan Asia Bank closed flat at Rs.17 on a big block of slightly over a million shares.
Among the most traded blue chips, Commercial Bank (voting) closed 10 cents up at Rs.97 on nearly 0.2 million shares, CTC was down 50 cents to Rs.670 on 24,356 and John Keells Holdings down 10 cents to close at Rs.179 on 90,722 shares. Bukit Darah lost a rupee to close at Rs.749 on 18,050 shares.
Brokers said that retail activity was subdued.
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